Following a vigil and letters to MPs, the Home Office and airlines Lydia Besong is to be released from Yarl’s Wood and her case re-opened.
The playwright and human rights activist was being threatended with deportation over Christmas to Cameroon where she had been raped and attacked by Government supporters.
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen wrote to immigration minister Phil Woolas stating there is “a real and substantial danger to Ms Besong and [her husband] Mr Batey should they be returned to Cameroon.”
The story featured on the-sauce.org on December 17 following an email from a Manchester-based campaigner who has now said: “More to follow once she has been release which is being delayed because of the weather”.
Brendan Montague
This article originally appeared on the-sauce.org on 11 January and is republished with the author’s permission.
Previously Andy Lockhart wrote about Lydia’s deportation order and then her arrest at Dallas Court.
Well done everyone on the campaign.
Update: Lydia is back in Manchester and awaiting the housing support which she is now due – as her fresh claim has been accepted and will now be assessed, the state is responsible for providing welfare support while Lydia and her husband await a decision.
Needless to say, when I spoke to her she was happy and overwhelmed by the public support.